Electric meter.



W. R. WHITNEY.

ELECTRIC METER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16,1907.

25,064. Patented June 15, 1909.

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WILLIS R. WHITNEY, OF SGHENEOTADY; NEW YORK, ASSJGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC METER.

rzpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, lacs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS R. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Meters, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention re ates to a method of and apparatus for. measuring electricity, and in carrying out my invention 1 measure the migration of ionsthrough an electrolyte, this migration being roportional to the dif ference in potential etween the electrodes.

By choosing the roper electrolyte, the ions will react therewith and indicate their presence, preferably by causing visible changes, such as a change of color in the electrolyte;

or, if desired, some indicator or indicating medium afiectedby the resence of ions may be placed in the electro yte, and the extent of change produced in the electrolyte is a measure of the migration of the ions.

My invention will'best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing one embodiment thereof, in which- Figure shows one form of meter made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a deof the meter; and g. 3 is a system of connections which makes the device a wattmeter.

In the form of meter shown in the drawing a metering tube 1 of glass or other trans-.

parent material has receptacles 2 and 3 connected to each end of it by means of rubber or other suitable connectors 4, forming a liquid-tight joint between the receptacles and the tube 1. electrodes 5 and 6, connected to the termi rials of the meter which in turn are connected to the main conductor, one on each side of a resistance in series with the main conductor, as shown in Fig. 1, and each receptacle preferably contains a liquid 7, which furnishes the ions which are to be migrated. A liquid which may be used for this purpose is a one tenth of. one per cent. solution of copper sulfate. The electrolyte affected by the ions is contained in the indicating tube 1 and is preferably partially solidified by means of gelatin r other viscous material, or by sand or simi ar material so as to prevent conveo- The electrolyte in the tion and stirring. metering-tube is affected or changed in color,

by the presence of the ions, which are caused i to migrate through it by the difference of The receptacles containpotential between the electrodes 5 and 6. As the ions enter the electrolyte in the meter: ing-tube, they react therewith and causes. visible effect such as a chan e in color, and the result is that there is a sharp line of de marcation between that portion of the else-'- trolyte affected by the ions and thatportion which remains unaffected. This line gradually moves from one electrode toward the other, its progress being a true measure oi the currents which have passed through the naeter. A scale of convenient form is mounted adjacent the metering-tube'so that the movement of the indicating line may be readily followed.

When the liquid 7 surrounding the electrodes 5 and 6 is copper sulfate solution, copper ions are migrated, and a suitable substance l'or the metering-tube l is zinc sulfid jelly, made of 10% to 30% gelatin, to which has been added zinc sulfate and the theoretical amount of sodium sulfid to' form zinc sulfid. As the copper ions migrate into the zinc suliid jelly, brown copper suliid is harmed, filling the tube from side to side and gradually extending along the tube as the current continues to How, the line between the copper sulfid and the zinc sulfid being always well defined. The position of this line in relation to the scale indicates the amount of current which has passed through the meter.

The ions may indicate their presence by affecting the electrolyte in the indicating tube by causing a change in color which is the effect most easily observed and followed, and is, therefore, the cllcct most desirable in practice. The indicating cil'ect 5'1 the metering-tube may be obtained by mingling any desired indicator with the electrolyte in the metering-tube, so that any desired change of color may be obtained. The apparent rate of migration of the indicating line may also be altered by placing in the metering-tube a substance which will react with and remove the ions from the indicating medium without giving any indication of the presence of said ions. If an acid ion is being migrated, an i alkaline reagent in the metering-tube will an indicating medium. If, for instance, chalk and an indicating medium are um- 1 tube and remain so on account of the gela- 1 tin or other viscous mater al in the tube,

formly distributed throughout the meteringtil react with the acid ion before it can affect 10,6

the net result that the movement of ie indicating line through the'metering tuhe is much slower th it would be if the chalk were not presen since as the sci-d.v ions mrgratel into the mixture, the will reset wr h or y chel hey encounter without giving any indict ion off such reaction until the chalk is completely used up; after which the following ions will react with the indicating; medium, and w ll give it visible indication of their presence, ,1 e movement of the indieating line is 1 some, except for speed, es would he i1 Jl'lO chaik were not present. it is obvious that the rate of diiiusion-hetween the liquid around the electrodes 5 endv .re ions, end one o! the ways 111 i. may obtain thls result is shown'm own to e 15.118 opening 9. This opening is of such it size that it orecticelly revents all diffusion of the iicruids hut permits the posoi ioiisirito the metering-tube Melly other means of obtaining this result may he with the some rise of temperature.

eiiigloyed, s d i do not desire to be restricted o is see .hc emhodiment shown end deor arrangement causing meter made eccerdihg my invention to act as e wsttmeter is shown in Fig. 3, iii which 10 and 11 are the leads of the circuit supplying; lamps or other translating devices 13. A resistonce 1 connected ecrosshetween the leads 10 and 13, and solenoid 1'5, in series with the lead 10, isprovided with a springretrected core 16, which cerries at oneend e contact-brush l7 sliding dengthwise ofend engaging with the resistance 14. The lead 1.8 coimects the brush 17 to one terminal of the meter, the other terminal being connected t the-lead 16 through a ies-d l9 and e helencmg resistance 20, the resistance of which in crosses with rise of tern ereture kit the some es the resistance 0 the meter decreases As the current in the lead 16 increases, the core 16 is moved to the right, in the direction of the arrow, and the movement of the brush 17 over the resistance 14 reduces the amount of said resistance in series with the meter, thereby increasing the difference of poten tial hetweenthe leads 18 and 19 connected to the terminals of the meter.

My invention may be embodied in man T other forms then that shown mild described and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to the exact form shown herein, hilt intend by Letters Pa in which the meterieg-tuhe is drawn to cover by the claims si; iicetions which ere fei end scope of my irivei i cleim new and i. The 316 5530 current which. cc grate through an r tionei to the eiectroiyte to promise color thereby shew tion. a

The method mo. current which consists c: write at e orough eh erec -oi toe ions to produce e p changeehd in neutrelizing ort of the ions without indicating their 5) -ece thereby lessening the ego; erect o 11 'grstioir 3. The method. of measuring on electric current which consists in sensing ions to migrate at at rate proportional to the current through an electrolyte composed .of two fluids, each indicating by permanent changes in color the presence of ions from the other and in controllin the diliusion of said fluids.

4. in an electric meter, the combination with e vessel containing an electrolyte permerieetly changed in appearance by reaction with ions, of a, source or electromotive force connected to the terminals of seid meter to cause ions to migrate tl'irough said electroiyte.

on electric motor, the combination wits e vessel cohteihihg electroiyte per menently changed in color by the presence or" 1011s, of a source or eiectromotive force connected to the terminals of said meter to cause ions to migrate throu' i.-. said electro- L 4 43 116.

venting diffusion of said fluids, and a, source of electromotive force connected to the meter to cause ions to migrate from oiie fluid to the other. I

8, In an electric meter, the combination with a vessel containing two ilUldS,- each re acting with ions from the other to produce permanent visible chenges,' of asource of electromotive force connected to the terminsls oi the meter to cause ions to migrate from one fluid into the other, and means for ezaoee preventing diffusion of said fluids While perance connected across said circuit, a connecmitting the migration of the ions.

9. In an electric meter, the combination with a tube containing viscous material and two fluids, each fluid being an indicator for the presence of the ions from the other, of a source of electromotive force connected to the terminals of the meter to cause ions to migrate from one fluid into the other.

16. in a meter for electric circuits, the combination with a vessel containing anelect'rolyte and terminals immersed in said electrolyte, of a connection between one terminal end one of the leads of said circuit, a resisttion from the other terminal movable over ]said resistance, and automatic means re- I sponsive to current in said connection over said resistance to make the difference of potential betweensaid terminals dependent on the current andthe voltage in said circuit.

Inavitness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 1%07.

WILLIS R. WHITNEY.

Witnesses BENJAMiN B. HULL, HELEN @RFORD.

said circuit for moving 

